OverviewBoardwalk Empire is a dramatized retelling of how Atlantic City became a hub of drinking during Prohibition. Steve Buscemi's Nucky Thompson is a mid-level public official, which affords him the money and influence to import alcohol and keep his operation a secret. The first two seasons of the show focused on Nucky's relationship with Jimmy Darmoty, an emotionally fragile World War I vet who grew up under Nucky's tutelage but was unsure of his place in Nucky's organization. After one too many betrayals, Nucky had him killed. After Jimmy's death, Boardwalk Empire became a show about the history of organized crime. Viewers get to see major players like Al Capone, Charlie Luciano and Meyer Lansky before they came into their own. The aesthetic of the show is perfectly '20s, and producer Martin Scorsese's influence is seen in the intelligent mob narratives and interest in anti-heroes.